Moving to Palau from Cook Islands

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Cook Islands to Palau? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Cook Islands to Palau. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Palau compared to Cook Islands.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2018

per 100,000 people per year

CK
3.5
PW
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CK
17.6
PW
22.2

Cook Islands performs better than Palau across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

CK
13.4
PW
17.8
Health coverage index United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access

CK
46
PW
65

Palau performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CK
18.2
PW
6.9

Cook Islands performs better than Palau across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2015

percentage of the labour force without work

CK
13.1%
PW
1.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CK
$15,600
PW
$15,800

Palau performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CK
77.1 yrs
PW
74.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CK
15.9
PW
11.3

Palau generally does better on family life, though Cook Islands leads in life expectancy.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cook Islands and Palau. To live, work, or study long-term in Palau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Palau's immigration authority.

Palau passport

Palau passport holder visiting Cook Islands

Visa Free
Palau passport holders can enter Cook Islands without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Palau?

Connectivity is usually fine (Palau: 6.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Palau offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Palau safe for expats?

Cook Islands performs better than Palau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Palau is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.5 in Cook Islands.

How is healthcare in Palau compared to Cook Islands?

Palau performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 17.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Palau, compared to 13.4 in Cook Islands. Palau scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cook Islands: 46).

What language do they speak in Palau?

The official languages in Palau are English and Palauan. In Cook Islands, the official languages are Cook Islands Māori and English.

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At a Glance

CK PW
Population 8,128 21,695
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Cook Islands Māori, English English, Palauan
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +682 +680
Time zones 1 1